SHEEP SHEARING DEMONSTRATION, BOOK LAUNCH . . . HORSE VIRUS FOUND IN SDG . . . WHAT ARE THE DIRTY DOZEN AND THE CLEAN FIFTEEN . . . SFI TO BRING TOGETHER GLOBAL FORESTRY AND BRAND LEADERS IN MONTREAL . . . URBAN FARMS BUILD RESILIENCE WITHIN SINGAPORE'S FRAGILE FOOD SYSTEM . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

SHEEP SHEARING DEMONSTRATION, BOOK LAUNCH
Source: NSFA Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell will attend a sheep shearing demonstration and participate in the launch of Explore Farming in Nova Scotia as part of the Meet Your Farmer at the Mall events on Friday, Aug. 22, at Micmac Mall. The sheep shearing demonstration will take place at 1 pm. The book launch will take place at 1:30 pm in The Bay Courtyard. Mr. Colwell will be joined by farmer Ruth Mathewson, Suzanne Blatt, entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Kim Stokdijk, representative of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture. (read more)

HORSE VIRUS FOUND IN SDG
Source: Standard-Freeholder.com
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit has reported that a horse in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry has tested positive for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV). The virus is normally found in wild birds, but through transmission of infected mosquitoes, the virus can spread to horses and humans. (read more)

WHAT ARE THE DIRTY DOZEN AND THE CLEAN FIFTEEN
Source: David Suzuki Foundation
The dirty dozen and the clean 15 refer respectively to the fruits and vegetables that are the most and least contaminated by pesticide use, according to the Environmental Working Group. Pesticides are toxic by design! Different pesticides have been linked to a variety of health problems, including hormone disruption, cancer and brain toxicity. But for most people, switching to organic produce is a gradual process. Because organic foods tend to be more expensive than their counterparts, making informed choices in the produce aisle helps minimize pesticide consumption while keeping the budget in check! (read more)

SFI TO BRING TOGETHER GLOBAL FORESTRY AND BRAND LEADERS IN MONTREAL
Source: Pulp & Paper Canada
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Inc. (SFI®) will bring together stakeholders across a broad spectrum – from landowners to brand owners – to discuss and determine actions related to forests at the SFI Annual Conference. This year’s event will be held September 16-18 in Montreal, and will address green building, advancements in forestry research, and other emerging forest issues that help shape North America’s future forests. (read more)

URBAN FARMS BUILD RESILIENCE WITHIN SINGAPORE'S FRAGILE FOOD SYSTEM
At a local FairPrice Supermarket in central Singapore, you’ll find baby carrots grown in Bakersfield, California — the same ones for sale at my local grocery store in Washington, D.C. Such well-traveled vegetables aren’t unusual in the tiny island state, which imports more than 90 percent of its food from some 35 countries. Singapore may be one of the most affluent countries in the world, but it depends heavily on others for basic foodstuffs. (read more)